Motorized inversion gravity machine for the body

ABSTRACT

An inversion apparatus for suspending a person in an inverted position that provides, by natural gravity, spinal disks decompression after the stress of sports and fitness exercises, spinal realignment and natural spinal curvature, spinal flexibility, spinal awareness, improvement and correction of most back and neck problems, improved vascular and capillary blood circulation, correction of varicose veins and cellulite, and much more. The apparatus is designed for both prevention and rehabilitation of most back problems and circulatory conditions. The inversion gravity apparatus includes a frame, a winch, and a pair of anchor loops to connect the the feet of the person to the winch. Controls are provided for the person to operate the winch at will, to move the person up and down to a controlled and gradual elevated, inverted position. The person may also exercise in the inverted position. For this reason a series of horizontal cross bars have been included in the design. A time delay of alternating current winch system controls the up and down movements in order to avoid a run-on condition in which the winch might fail to reverse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the physical well being, fitness, spinal health, flexibility and relaxation of the spine. It is now a scientific fact that all physical exercises, whether done as free body movements or apparatus induced as well as all sports, involving running jumping, vertical or lateral impact, weigh lifting, etc. compress the spinal disks or produce lateral, negative and dangerous solicitations to the spine. Excessive and prolonged disks compression and lateral solicitations may produce laceration, hernia, and/or dislocation of the intervertebral disks, as well as pinched nerves, torn cartilage and even arthritis, lordosis, kyphosis, as long term conditions. For many years, ancient cultures have practiced standing on one's head as a mind-body discipline to achieve the centering of the body's energy, realigning the spine to its proper and natural curvature, spinal awareness, relief from pressure, improve vascular and capillary blood circulation, heart conditions, etc. This invention does all the above much better, for by anchoring and pulling the body from the feet gradually and gently stretches and realign each vertebrae and every part of the body inch by inch and brings the body to a perfect inverted vertical position.

2. The Related Prior Art In U.S. Patent

U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,511 to Francisco Alvarez discloses an inversion apparatus in which a person can be strapped to a frame and suspend himself at an angle, with his head upward to apply tension to his spine. This apparatus, however suspends a person from the hips, does not achieve full inversion as in the present invention, and does not stretch and realign the body in a gradual and U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,708 to Victor Steele discloses an inversion apparatus in which a person can suspend himself enmeshed in a frame with his thighs supported in a pad to suspend a person from his thighs. This apparatus, however suspends a person from the hips, does not achieve full inversion as in the present invention, and does not stretch and realign the body in a gradual and total way from the feet up.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,929 to Frank G. Reed discloses an inversion apparatus in which a person can suspend himself enmeshed in a frame with his thighs supported in a pad, and his knees around another pad to suspend a person from his thighs. This apparatus, however suspends a person from the hips, does not achieve full inversion as in the present invention, and does not stretch and realign the body in a gradual and total way from the feet up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A motorized inversion apparatus for suspending a person, feet up head down, including a frame, a winch and a control pendant activating a delay electrical circuit, a safety switch, two anchor loops, for the purpose of decompressing spinal disks, realigning, correcting anomalous spinal curvatures, rendering spinal flexibility, achieving spinal awareness, improving cardiovascular and capillary blood circulation, correcting varicose vein, cellulite, exercising the heart, clearing the urinary tracks from mineral deposits, improving endocrine system, etc. A controlled method made of four basic steps, for gradually and gently stretching the vertebral column, inch by inch, from the bottom up, to the last cervical vertebra; for post-surgery rehabilitation exercises; for realigning and bringing the vertebral column back to its natural curvature; for rendering the spine flexible, as well as, for improving general spinal health.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the invention, showing detail of the winch portion and anchor loops of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of the control pendant.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the urathane anchor strap and core webbing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic lateral view of the urathane anchor strap with core webbing and one side of Velcro fastener.

FIG. 7 External view of the urathane anchor strap with two sides of Velcro fastener.

FIG. 8 External section of the urethane anchor strap with the two sides of fastener.

FIG. 9 showing Step one for the apparatus user in a sitting position and placing feet inside the anchor loops.

FIG. 10 showing Step two for the apparatus user lying on the mat, holding onto the horizontal bar and activating the up-down switch.

FIG. 11 showing Step three for the apparatus user gradually lifting his body to an inverted vertical position

FIG. 12 showing the apparatus user having reached a total inversion of the body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the invention generally at 10. FIG. 1 shows an assembled motorized inversion gravity apparatus. FIG. 2 shows an exploded drawing of the inversion apparatus. A base 12 supports vertical strut frame side members 14 and 16, having horizontal cross members 15, although it is understood that the cross members 15 could be at an angle other than horizontal. Cross members 15 inside member 14 and member 16 are spaced apart and provide for safety, as hand holds, and also as bars to grasp to perform exercises while suspended in the inversion apparatus. A mechanical alarm 19 attached to vertical side member 14 is provided in the unlikely event of a power failure, in order summon assistance in case of an extended power failure. A top assembly 18 supports the winch 20. Winch 20 may be powered by a direct current or an alternating current motor. Bolts 23 are used to hold the assembly together. The top assembly needs to be positioned high enough to allow the winch 20 to lift the user to a fully vertical, inverted position Space constraints may dictate a maximum height for the inversion apparatus. The top assembly may be placed six, seven, eight feet or more to allow use by the intended user, and still fit within the space available for the inversion apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 3, the winch 20 mounted on the top assembly 18. A gear reducer 22 forms a portion of winch 20, along with drum 24. A flexible tension member, belt 26 is suspended from the winch 20 and is rolled onto and off of the drum 24 as drum 24 is rotated to raise and lower the loop 28 and snap 32. Tee bar 34 is connected to snap 32. Anchor loops 36 and 38 are connected to (loops on tee bar 34. Anchor loops 36 and 38 wrap around the ankle of the user to securely lift the user without cutting blood circulation on the foot while in the inverted position. The anchor loops may be secured with Velcro fasteners 25, FIG. 6-8. Fabric, leather, or the materials loops may be used rather than urethane ones.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a control pendant 40 is suspended from the top assembly 18, in convenient position for use by the user. The pendant has a an “UP” button 42 and a “DOWN” button 44 and is operable connected to the winch 20. Lift by the winch 20 is operational while the up button 42 is depressed to close the appropriate switch. Descent by the winch is operational while the down button 44 is depressed to close the appropriate switch. All motion of the winch stops while neither up button 42 nor down button 44 is depressed.

The winch is controlled by a circuit well known in the prior art to raise and lower the user of the inversion gravity apparatus, wherein the winch takes up belt 26, thereby lifting while the up button 42 is depressed, and pays out the belt 26 while the down button 44 is depressed. A delay in closing the up and down circuits is necessary, since experiments have indicated that while the winch is moving in one direction, instantaneously depressing the other button would not result in a change in direction of an alternating circuit winch motor, but would result in continuing operation in the same direction. This is not acceptable for safety. The solution to this problem was to use a time delay in the operation of the relays in the circuit, giving time for the winch motor time to spin down in speed before the circuit is completed, energizing. The winch motor to turn in the opposite direction. A time delay of 250 milliseconds is necessary to prevent and alternating current motor winch from continuing rotation in the same direction A delay of 500 milliseconds is more reliable in preventing the continuation of rotation of the winch motor in the same direction if one control button 42 or 44 is depressed rapidly after the other.

Referring to FIG. 3 are two urethane anchor loops 36 and 38 while FIGS. 5-8, same loops are shown to be molded around two core nylon webbing to which metal rings are sawn as to attach to bar 36. Webbing are of considerable strength (3,000 LB capacity). In this way both strength and comfort are obtained. Comfort stand as zero possibility that the user will feel numbness in the feet, as opposed to common inversion boots, existing in the market.

Description of the Method

As opposed to ordinary inversion tables, the method conforms with the apparatus designed to allow the user to obtain a gradual and gentle decompression of spinal disk starting from the lower lumbar vertebrae up to the cervical vertebrae and to reach a gradual and controlled gravity inversion of the body. This method should be applied for proper use of the apparatus and also for equalizing the negative stress occurring while performing fitness and sport exercises. Control and gradual gravity inversion is very important especially when spinal injuries are to be overcome or post surgery rehabilitation is to be achieved. The method so designed is excellent for also correcting some postural and physiological conditions of spinal abnormality, back and neck pains affecting more than 90 Million Americans. FIGS. 9-12 show the substance of the invention, namely, the basic four steps the user follows in order to accomplish full physical benefits. In FIG. 9 the user is shown seated on the rubber pad, inserting the feet inside the two anchor loops. In FIG. 10, the user is reclining and activating the up-down switch. In FIG. 11, the user is activating the winch which is gradually lifting his entire body. In FIG. 12, the user has obtained a full inversion of the body and can now stretch, relax the body, allow to decompress the spinal disks, align or reacquire the spinal natural curvature, improve spinal flexibility and spinal awareness, and much more.

I have disclosed an apparatus according to wherein the means for controlling the winch includes a control unit operable connected to the winch, a switch unit accessible to a user of the apparatus, a switch in the switch unit to activate upward movement of the winch, with a delay timer to delay upward movement of the winch for at least 250 milliseconds, and a switch in the switch unit to activate downward movement of the winch with a delay timer to delay downward movement of the winch for at least 250 milliseconds. I have disclosed apparatus wherein the means for controlling the winch includes the switch in the switch unit to activate upward movement of the winch, with a delay timer to delay upward movement of the winch for at least 500 milliseconds, and a switch in the switch unit to activate downward movement of the winch, with a delay timer to delay downward movement of the winch for at least 500 milliseconds. I have disclosed the method of inversion of a human user comprising the steps of placing the two feet of the user inside the anchor loops, loops attached to a winch and each fitted in a caption type the ankles of the human user, using a pendant switch for activating an electric winch to lift the user's body into an inverted position, and using a pendant switch for activating the electric winch to lower the user's body from the inverted position.

Although elements of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying dialing and described in the foregoing Description will be understood that the invention, both in his design and method is not limited to the embodiments and the steps disclosed but is capable of rearrangements, modifications, substitutions and reversals of parts, elements and/or additional method’ steps without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. Apparatus designed to raise a person into a gradual inverted position starting from the feet up, comprising: a three part frame consisting of at least two vertical sides, a bottom portion with a cushion vase made of soft material, and a top portion, said top portion positioned at least five feet above said base, a motorized or manual which mounted in said top portion of said frame, and adapted to raise and lower a flexible tension member and a pair of especially padded anchor rings adapted to secure around the ankles of a person, metal spring hooks and other devices for attaching said anchor rings to said tension member, and hand switches for controlling the motor or other devices for operating manually said winch.
 2. A pair of anchor rings in accordance with claim 1, built out of urethane foam, cloth, leather or other materials, attaching to any tension members, belt, rope or chain, a webbing core, used to strengthen the rings and to connect the user's ankles to any lifting devices that lift the body from the feet up.
 3. Method using means comprised in claim 1 and 2, adopting any of the following four basic steps for anchoring and lifting the body feet up and precisely: step one whereby the user scats and inserts both ankles into the anchor rings according to claim 2; step two whereby the user reclines on his back and activates the switch operating a motor winch or any other manual lifting devices; step three whereby the user raises his body in a vertical position toward obtaining full inversion gravity of same; step four whereby the user reaches a full vertical inversion gravity of the body.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said top portion accommodating means for lifting the human body feet up is positioned at least six feet above said base.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said top portion accommodating means for lifting the body feet up is positioned at least seven feet above said base.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said winch is powered by a direct current electric motor.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said winch is powered by an alternating or direct current electric motor.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said winch is strictly mechanical and manually operated.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a mechanical alarm accessible to a user in inverted position.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertical side member comprises: at least one vertical strut, and spaced apart cross members fixed to the vertical strut, and distributed along the vertical strut.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the spaced apart cross members are oriented horizontally.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said winch comprises: a. control unit connected to said winch; b. a switch unit accessible to a user or the apparatus; c. a pendant switch in said switch unit to activate upward movement of said winch; d. a delay timer to delay upward movement of said winch for at least 250 milliseconds; e. a switch in said switch unit to activate downward movement of said winch; and f. a delay timer to delay downward movement of said winch For at least 250 milliseconds.
 13. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 9 wherein said means for controlling said winch comprise: said switch in said switch unit to activate upward movement of said winch, with a delay timer to delay upward movement of said winch for at least 500 milliseconds, and a switch in said switch unit to activate downward movement of said winch, with a delay timer to delay downward movement of said winch for at least 500 milliseconds.
 14. The method of inverting the human body in accordance to claim 3 comprising means for attaching two anchor rings to a winch in accordance to claim 2, each adapted to fasten the lower ankles of the human user to the anchor rings or to any kind of anchor devices each to a lower ankle of the user, activating an electric winch or any other manual device to lift the user into an inverted position.
 15. Amended. The method of inversion of a human body according to claim 13 wherein the steps of activating an electric winch to lift a user into an inverted position from the feet by means of anchor rings, or any other device, and activating the electric winch to lift and lower a user to and from the inverted position further comprise: a. using anchor rings, or any other anchoring device to lift the body of the user by the feet; b. using anchor rings, or any other anchoring device to lower the body of the user by the feet. 